Feb. 1--For Lura Bryan of Buena Park, paying for an ultrasound from a private company called Life Line Screening was a lifesaver.
The 79-year-old had the ultrasound about a year and a half ago, and the tests revealed a clogged carotid artery, one of the main arteries in the neck that carries blood to the brain.
"I got a specialist, he said I was due real soon for a major stroke," Bryan said.
Bryan underwent surgery soon after to clear her artery.
For Bryan, the ultrasound may have saved her life. But some question whether a test that is patient-driven -- rather than ordered by a doctor -- is a waste of money.
"If you want to part with $200 for your peace of mind, I don't think it's the worst thing in the world," said Los Robles Hospital radiologist Dr. Catherine Moses.
She is not a fan of any full body scan that exposes a person to radiation, which this scan does not.
"My idea about screening is you should screen at-risk populations," she said. "We do a lot of research about determining when to screen, what to screen for and how often to screen."
Dr. Edward Zimney, a retired pathologist who does medical consulting out of Washington state, said companies like this can be a waste of money. He spoke out against Life Line in a blog he wrote in 2008 for an online company called www.everydayhealth.com.
"Why go to Life Line and pay them money out of pocket for tests that you probably don't need?" Zimney asked. "When if you did need them, and your doctor ordered them, they would be paid for."
Life Line, which is offering screenings at Ojai Valley Wesleyan Church on Jan. 28, is a Cleveland, Ohio-based private company that travels around the country offering ultrasound screenings to detect some risk factors for stroke or heart disease.
"This is not a full body scan. There is no radiation involved," said Life Line spokeswoman Joelle Reizes. "It's not a fishing expedition all over your body. We are looking for specific things that are typically silent."
For a price that can range from $45 to $219, patients can have anything from a carotid artery scan to a full wellness package, which involves, among other things, taking a patient's measurements and a simple fingertip blood test for cholesterol and glucose levels.
Some doctors welcome the scan, seeing it as an added tool for the patient's health.
Thousand Oaks cardiologist and internist Dr. Sanjiv Goel thinks services offered by a company such as Life Line are a good thing. He thinks the price is reasonable and the environment nonthreatening.
"They usually do this on a weekend. They are in their own environment," Goel said. "They are not intimidated by a doctor's office."
The scans are painless and involve no clothing removal except socks and shoes, according to the Life Line Web site. The entire procedure takes less than an hour. After the test is completed, a board-certified physician licensed to practice in the state where the patient lives will review it and the patient is mailed the results. If there is a problem, as there was with Bryan, Life Line physicians urge patients to contact their doctors.
Both Moses and Goel stressed that if tests show something is abnormal, the patient should contact his or her physician immediately.
Goel said many of his patients come to him with ultrasounds they've done privately, and he finds them helpful.
"It increases awareness for people," Goel said. "It's a door-opener."
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